Generative AI is everywhere these days, and I believe most of you reading this post have already used some form of AI in your work or daily life. As someone who strongly believes in the power of technology in education, I always encourage teachers, educators, and researchers to tap into the potential that these tools offer, not just to save time or automate tasks, but to rethink how we work, learn, and create.
That said, I know how overwhelming things already are for most teachers. The workload is heavy enough without adding “learn about AI” to your to-do list. But let me say this: AI is no longer an option. Our students are already using it, and, in many cases, they probably know more about it than we do. Like it or not, AI is shaping the future of education and work, and we need to catch up.
This is where AI literacy comes in. I like to think of AI as a framework that can help you develop the skills to search for, evaluate, and integrate AI in meaningful and ethical ways in your teaching and research. The problem, of course, is that searching for good AI tools can quickly turn into a frustrating, time-consuming process especially when your time and energy are already stretched thin.
That’s why I created this post.
AI Directories for Teachers and Researchers
What follows is a curated list of some of the best AI directories out there; places where you can easily browse, search, and explore tons of AI tools for education and research. These directories often let you filter tools by category, see what’s trending or newly released, and read real feedback from other users.
So take your time to explore these spaces, experiment with different tools, and see which ones can actually add value to your work. Hopefully, you’ll discover something that makes your teaching, your research, or even your daily routine just a little bit easier.
1. Product Hunt
Product Hunt is one of my favorite platforms, and I’ve been using it for years, way before the generative AI hype even started. It’s a daily launchpad for new tech products, including tons of AI tools.
What I really like about Product Hunt is that it’s not just a directory, it’s a community. People upvote, comment, and share their experiences, so you get real feedback, not just marketing talk. For teachers and educators, it’s a great place to discover fresh AI tools, creative apps, and useful resources often before they hit the mainstream.
2. AI Tool Hunt
AI Tool Hunt is a simple and easy-to-use directory where you can explore a wide variety of free AI tools. You can search tools by keyword or sort them by most liked, newest, or by category. Categories include animation, academics, art, and more. This site is especially useful for educators who want quick access to free and popular AI tools without having to dig through complicated menus.
3. There is An AI Tool for That
Another of my favourite AI directories. This directory makes it easy to discover AI tools for different needs. It features curated lists of popular tools, trending tools, and newly released ones. The platform is freemium, which means some tools and features are free, while others require a paid plan.
4. There Is An AI
This directory offers a handpicked collection of AI tools aimed at improving productivity and simplifying everyday tasks. As a teacher or researcher, you can use it to find tools that help automate routine work, organize resources, or streamline lesson planning. It’s a useful space for discovering practical AI apps that can make teaching and administrative tasks more efficient.
5. AI Top Tools
AI Top Tools is a large directory featuring over 10,000 AI tools across different categories. I like the review feature in this site as it can help you get real feedback before trying a tool. It’s a great place to explore, compare, and discover new AI tools for teaching, learning, researching, and productivity.
6. Toolify AI
Toolify AI is a massive directory featuring over 25,000 AI tools organized into 233 categories. It covers a wide variety of fields including education, writing, video creation, coding, design, and more. Toolify is updated daily with a special section dedicated to GPT-powered tools. For teachers, it’s a helpful space to search for classroom-friendly AI tools, productivity apps, lesson planning aids, or even AI detectors.
7. Easy with AI
Easy with AI is a user-friendly directory that brings together a wide range of AI tools in one place. It covers popular categories like writing, video creation, coding, transcription, SEO, and education. Teachers and educators can use its search and filter options to quickly find tools for lesson creation, content generation, classroom engagement, or administrative tasks. It’s simple, practical, and a good starting point if you’re exploring AI tools for different classroom needs.
8. Top AI Tools
Top AI Tools is a large and growing directory featuring over 18,000 AI tools designed for different tasks and needs. What I find helpful about this site is its focus on use cases: you can search tools by what you want to do, like writing, coding, teaching, or content creation. It also has special sections for free tools and open-source AI tools, which is great for teachers looking for budget-friendly or customizable options.
9. Futurepedia
Futurepedia is a popular AI tools directory where teachers and educators can easily browse tools by category. It organizes tools into clear sections like AI text generators, video tools, productivity tools, image tools, and coding tools. There’s also a featured section highlighting the most popular tools. If you’re looking for a clean, well-organized place to explore AI tools Futurepedia is definitely worth checking out.
10. AI Library
AI Library is a large AI tool directory that offers access to over 3,600 tools across a wide range of categories. It has a clean design and powerful search filters which makes it easy for teachers and educators to find tools for specific tasks. It covers tools for writing, presentations, coding, data analysis, video creation, and more. There’s also an educational section, which can be helpful for teachers looking for classroom-friendly AI solutions.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve found these resources helpful. As far as I am concerned, it’s never about AI for the sake of AI. It’s about how you use it, how you make it work for you, to save time, simplify your tasks, and hopefully make your teaching, research, and everyday life a little easier.
Keep in mind that AI is just a tool. The real value comes from how you integrate it into your workflow, how you experiment with it, and how you use it to serve your own goals and needs. So go ahead, explore these directories, try out different tools, see what fits your style and context, and most importantly, keep learning and stay curious.
